BEASON -- Marjorie Wright and her children didn't sleep at their home Monday night, fearful that whoever killed five of their neighbors -- including three children -- was still at large.

"Not knowing anything is pretty scary," said Wright, whose daughter, Stormee Whitney, knew the younger victims. "You don't know whether to stay home or get out of Dodge, so to speak."

Residents in the tiny eastern Logan County community of Beason -- with a population around 150 -- were not alone in their concerns Tuesday as police used dogs, horses and planes to search the area and news media descended on the town.

Yet some residents expressed concern about the lack of official information available from authorities, who initially responded to reports of shots fired at the Gee family's ranch-style home around 4 p.m. Monday.

Around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said residents in and around Beason should lock their doors.

And mourning for Rick and Ruth Gee and the three children had already begun in town before police confirmed their identities.

"Mainly, everyone is in shock," said Emil Walker, a neighbor of the Gees.

Police released no information as of Tuesday night about possible suspects other than that the person is believed to be armed and dangerous.

"It's just a quiet town, and this has really shocked a lot of residents," said Ken Hutchison, Oran Township supervisor. "There are people in town that haven't locked their houses in years, and I'm sure they're locked now."

Living in Beason

Beason Postmaster Jodie Duncan, who knew the slain children because their bus stop is in front of her Broadway Street post office, said, "Everybody watches out for each other's kids" in Beason.

"Parents don't care if you fuss up their kids, or spoil them," Duncan said.

Beason doesn't have an elected village board and is run by township government. It has a volunteer fire department, whose headquarters has served as a staging area for emergency officials since the slayings.

Beason's claim to fame is pro baseball scout and Beason native Ellsworth "Brownie" Brown, who signed Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett. Brown died in January.

The old central business district on Broadway is now full of vacant storefronts, plus the post office. A farm equipment dealer, restaurant and gas station all have closed, said Hutchison.

The only businesses left are the grain elevator, a trucking business and the Beason Ag Center on the east side, said Brian Voyles of rural Beason, who works in the shop at the ag center.

"Back in the 1920s, (I'm sure) this was a kickin' place," said Russell Miller, who identified himself as a friend of the Gee family.

Dale Day, who lives a few blocks from the home where the bodies were found, said he would arm himself Tuesday night to be ready for any trouble that might come his way.

"Now I have my 9 mm loaded, cocked and ready to fire if someone breaks into my house," Day said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.